Episode #201. What are you going to do?
A moment of silence with a hard face.
Edward soon opened his mouth in a low voice.
“I’ll admit that it’s great that you tracked me down and even found the Seven Arks with just that clue.”
“Should I thank you for acknowledging that?”
Among the 12 ghosts of the liberation brigade, he was quite confident in plotting things while hiding behind the scenes.
Therefore, being caught so easily was a very humiliating and hurtful thing for Edward.
But although he was angry, he wasn’t excited.
He just coldly spoke and took an object out of his bosom.
“But it was your mistake to come here alone.”
“Then why are you taking out the brush? Are you going to draw a picture here?”
“I’m not thinking of painting.”
Edward swung his blood-red paintbrush as Limon watched with trembling eyes.
The moment when a strange shape was drawn in the air.
Limon narrowed his eyes as he saw the shadow at his feet wriggling and taking the shape of a familiar monster.
“…I thought it was a bit strange to taste blood. Was it paint rather than blood in the first place?”
“True art changes reality.”
Edward laughed coldly.
Then, he stroked the shadow monster that rose up next to him with his hand and continued talking.
“Before, you could have been lucky enough to survive because of Count Rose, but you won’t be able to today.”
“Hmm, that sounds like the reason why they sent these monsters to attack me before was also aimed at me.”
“Did you know that now?”
“No, I know. I knew it before.”
Limon scratched his cheek.
He guessed that the attack was aimed at himself.
I’ve heard that the only time the Shadow Monsters openly appeared to Rose was when they were attacked in the Hour of Darkness, other than when Jessica died.
In addition, there was a prophecy that ‘Lee’ would be a threat to the Liberation Brigade, so I could understand why they were targeting him.
One problem.
“It’s just that I still don’t understand why the crude method was used.”
“…Crude method?”
“Aren’t you the type of person who never comes forward and manipulates others from behind? But why did you go out so openly then?”
“That’s because you presumptuously tried to hang out with Count Rose.”
“hmm?”
Take a moment to blink at that unexpected answer.
Seeing a clear emotion different from the anger in Edward’s eyes, Limon put on a puzzled expression.
“You couldn’t believe that you assaulted me because you were jealous that I was walking around London with the Count?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Countess Rose is not a woman that a lowly person like you can carelessly talk about or look at.”
“Are you okay?”
“Because only a woman as perfect as her deserves to be the Crown Princess of the British Empire.”
Limon was dumbfounded.
“Is that what the guy who conspired behind the scenes and drove the Countess Sea Serpent to?”
“It’s for a great cause.”
“It’s a big job… Are you referring to your ambition to get rid of the Countess of the Sea Serpent and the Magus Guild and gain the hegemony of the British Empire?”
“It is not ambitious. A cause.”
Edward cut it off.
Then he continued, staring at Limon with eyes burning with conviction.
“The Countess of Sea Serpent forgot allegiance while showing mercy to the ignorant people, and the Magus Guild is vulgar and has no honor. So I will lead you on the right path.”
The British Empire originally belonged to the King.
So it was only natural that the Countess Sea Serpent and the Magus Guild would pay their allegiance to him.
If he was himself, he could make the British Empire even richer and make it a true empire that gave hegemony not only to Europe but to the whole world.
That is the true ‘justice’ and ‘greatness’.
Limon let out a blank laugh as he saw Edward making the assertion with unwavering eyes.
“Do you think that will work for you?”
“It already happens.”
the moment I heard that.
Limon frowned.
It wasn’t just that she had noticed the meaning behind Edward’s words through years of experience.
It was because I realized the identity of the commotion that had begun to be heard vaguely from afar a little while ago.
“…You made all of London a mess.”
“As expected, you are quick-witted.”
Edward continued with a cold smile.
“The reason I haven’t been able to move my work so far is because I was tied to the London battle scene. But that annoying curse disappeared thanks to the magic lord.”
“And now, if the monsters you unleashed stir up London, the citizens of London will condemn the Magus Guild for getting rid of the showdown.”
“As a bonus, the reputation of the Earl of Sea Serpent for not being able to protect London will also go down.”
“So you’re going to make the Magus Guild and the Countess Sea Serpent fight for responsibility, grow the conflict, and eventually swallow both forces?”
“The preparations are already complete. All that remains is to execute.”
Hearing that, Limon frowned.
“It doesn’t matter if Londoners die in droves or not in the process?”
“There won’t be that much damage. Even if there is, a true Englishman should consider it an honor to be sacrificed to build a great British Empire.”
“…Yes, indeed, you are a bastard from the Liberation Brigade.”
Limon put on a cold expression.
Ryu Kang-chul, Velos, and Eugene were all ruthless killers, but they weren’t such bastards.
At least they knew they were villains.
However, the attitude of Edward, who took the sacrifice of others for granted with his perfect ideology of the chosen people and did not doubt that he was justice, was disgusting.
“Talk as you please. You’re going to die right here anyway.”
Edward didn’t care if Limon looked at him with disgust.
I just coldly gave orders.
“Take care of it.”
Ssssss.
Seeing the shadow monster attacking Limon at his direction, Edward was certain of his death.
He was known to the world as a player in his 40s, but his real level was 92.
In particular, the shadow monster he summoned in the 『Purgatory Painting Album』 was not something that a mere performer could handle.
At least he believed it.
Chew!
“…?!”
“If it’s a painting, it should stick to the floor like a painting. Why are you walking around?”
…that is, until Limon cut the Shadow Monster in two with the flick of a finger.
For a moment, he was taken aback by the fact that his shadow monster was destroyed in one blow.
Edward, who quickly regained his composure, as befits a great-looking player, immediately moved his brush again.
Ssssss.
A shadowy monster that springs up from the floor with every stroke of the brush.
The sight of a myriad of monsters rising up and rushing at them was usually enough to make them feel a sense of despair.
The problem was that Limon was an out-of-the-ordinary race.
Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
Every time you move your finger, a flash of light passes through the air and the shadow monster splits.
Edward opened his eyes at the sight of dozens of shadow monsters being cut to pieces in the blink of an eye.
“You must have hidden talents.”
“It’s true that he’s a master of tricks, but he’s still good enough to decapitate you.”
“…You seem like someone who doesn’t know the subject.”
“Wouldn’t we have to wait and see which one is the one who doesn’t know the subject?”
Edward had a plan to live.
It was unexpected, but not surprising, as it was prophesied that the name and color would be a disaster for the Liberation Brigade.
But the scorn on Limon’s face hurt his pride.
So it was.
That’s why he decided to use one unique skill a little faster.
“Descent X” Kaiser.”
Wow!
The moment he activated Constellation Descent, a unique skill granted only to the 12 ghosts of the Liberation Brigade.
A change happened to Edward.
The mechanical armor extending from his back covered his entire body, and a blood-red brush was stretched out like a spear and held in his hand.
At the same time, Edward, who began to emit explosive momentum, laughed coldly.
“Can you understand the subject now, nerd?”
Edward’s voice was full of confidence.
Now that the ‘artist who paints hell’ dwells in his body, he is an existence comparable to the monarch.
No matter how much hidden talent Limon had, there was no way he would dare to handle him now.
Even though it was a power that could only be used until the Holy Spirit’s durability ran out, it was enough time to kill Limon and overturn London.
“Yes, I understand.”
Have my senses been paralyzed by overwhelming power?
Limon nodded calmly.
He took something out of the box he was carrying on his back and spoke quietly.
“And thank you for calling me to your constellation so quickly. Thanks to you, I don’t have to waste time.”
“…what?”
When Edward puts on a puzzled expression at that outrageous statement.
Limon, who released the sword he was holding in his hand and instead grabbed the sword he took from the box, moved lightly.
Shortening the distance, one step.
Digging through the cracks in your heart, take a step.
A step, slashing Edward’s shoulder.
squeak.
So after Limon took three steps, Edward felt something was missing and slowly turned his head.
Then, he opened his eyes wide as he looked at his empty shoulder and arm that had fallen to the floor holding a brush.
“Aaaagh!”
Edward screamed at the belated pain and squeezed his shoulder as blood spurted out.
Seeing this, Limon kept a sneer on him.
“What are you doing with only one arm? The other ghosts ran like crazy until they died.”
“You, you bastard…!”
Even as he struggled with pain, Edward felt a sense of alertness when he heard those words.
No matter how careless he may have been, his ability to cut off his arm without even realizing he had gained power comparable to that of a monarch by using the Descent of the Constellation.
References to other specters.
Above all, the sword in his hand brought an existence to Edward’s mind.
“Limon Aspelder!”
“Call me with respect, man. Where are you calling the elder’s name carelessly?”
“Yes… Was it you? It was you from the beginning! You wicked bastard!”
Edward gritted his teeth.
I had to realize when there was a prophecy that he was the ember that would threaten the existence of the Liberation Brigade.
There couldn’t have been another such a terrible being other than this evil spirit that killed three of the 12 ghosts.
It was a mistake not to realize that Lee and Limon were the same person because of the perfect camouflage and the prejudice that the swordsman could not play.
But now it is too late.
Because he saw his opponent only as a performer and was careless, Edward was unable to properly use the power of the Constellation and was cornered.
“A person called a swordsman with a name does not even know this honor…!”
“It’s not what you’re talking about.”
Where do you talk about honor when you have been hiding your identity and only taking advantage of others?
Limon, who laughed at Edward, continued coldly.
“So, do you have anything more to say?”
“…!”
Sensing the murder in Limon’s cold eyes, Edward hardened his face.
He was proud, but not stupid.
Even if his body was normal, he would have avoided confronting Limon, but he could understand at once that it was impossible to fight against Limon as he had already lost an arm.
‘To die like this?’
‘Me, the Crown Prince of the British Empire?’
‘Because I was distracted for a while because I didn’t realize Lee Ja’s true identity?’
For a while, I shuddered at the unbelievable reality.
Edward, thinking of something, reflexively shouted.
“Even if you kill me, the work I created will not disappear! No, I will run amok until I destroy London!”
“Are you telling me to believe that lie?”
“It’s not a lie!”
Edward exclaimed furiously.
『Purgatory Painting Album』 is not a simple summoning skill.
The substance is a dimensional skill that connects the two-dimensional ‘shadow world’ and reality through a picture.
Therefore, his painting is a door that calls the existence of the shadow world to reality, but at the same time, it is also a restraint that prevents reality from being eroded more than necessary.
In addition, he has already left his paintings all over London in case of an emergency.
Of course, if Edward dies, the paintings will lose their power within a day, but until then, they will run amok spewing out monsters indefinitely.
Because of such danger, this skill was given the name Purgatory.
“Hmm, is that so?”
Limon agreed for once.
If the summoner dies, the case where the summoner runs out of control is not that rare.
“Then cancel the skill right away.”
“what?”
“Destroy all the shadow monsters you created. Of course it would be possible to cancel the skill, right?”
“Stop talking nonsense!”
Edward shouted in a fit of fuss.
It was obvious that if I did something like that, I would be killed by Limon immediately.
The fact that such insurance was prepared in the first place was also to be used in this situation.
Of course, I never imagined that I would use this move against someone who wasn’t Rose or Carol.
“You are the one who should give up Seven Arks right away and disappear here! Otherwise, I will send my works out of control right away!”
“If you don’t want to watch Londoners die at random, then you’re doing what you tell them to do?”
“Yes!”
Maybe it’s because I’m so stupid that I don’t even get angry.
For a moment, look at Edward with dry, emotionless eyes.
Limon asked again and again in a particularly languid, subdued voice, as if to confirm it one last time.
“So you’re going to play a ‘hostage’ against me?”
If Yuna-gyeong were here, she would have inadvertently covered her face with her two wings.
However, Edward laughed coldly on the contrary.
“I don’t care how you take it. But remember, the life and death of Londoners depends on me.”
“…then there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Limon nodded.
The moment Edward made an expression of joy after seeing that scene.
A flash of light passed through his neck.
Awesome!
His head fell to the floor after keeping his eyes wide open until the end as if he couldn’t believe what had happened to him.
And as he watched his body fall, spouting blood like a fountain, Limon opened his mouth in a cold voice.
“If you’re going to take hostages, you should have chosen your opponents well.”
No compromise on hostage taking.
For a moment, look at Edward’s corpse with indifferent eyes, who made the worst choice because he did not know his iron rule, which was more thorough because of its simplicity.
“…Is it as planned in the end?”
Limon turned around after absorbing all the fragments of starlight leaking from his body.
And lightly swung the sword.
Kwajik.
The statue in the middle of the secret room naturally splits left and right, finally revealing the glass case.
To be precise, Limon looked at the one item in it with strange eyes, then took the whole thing and turned around.
And he muttered softly as he heard the screams that had grown louder since the moment Edward died.
“As expected, when you get older, you have to buy insurance.”
